FBI warns Iran aspires to attack California with drones in retaliation for war

The FBI has issued a formal warning to police departments across California that Iran may retaliate against the United States by launching offensive drones toward the West Coast.

An alert reviewed by ABC News states that as of early February 2026, Iran “aspired to conduct a surprise attack using unmanned aerial vehicles from an unidentified vessel off the coast of the United States Homeland, specifically against unspecified targets in California,” should the U.S. strike Iran.

The transmission was distributed at the end of February, precisely as the Trump administration began its military campaign against Tehran. Iran has already responded with drone strikes across the Middle East.

The FBI alert explicitly notes the message was intended for “clandestine recipients” and warns that such communications could activate prepositioned assets.

No specific timing, method, target, or perpetrators are identified, but the warning instructs local law enforcement to heighten monitoring of suspicious maritime and aerial activity.

Former Department of Homeland Security intelligence chief John Cohen told ABC News the alert is critical because “Iran has an extensive presence in Mexico and South America, they have relationships, they have the drones and now they have the incentive to conduct attacks.”

This marks the first known federal warning to domestic police forces of a potential direct Iranian aerial assault on the U.S. mainland using long-range drone capabilities launched from vessels offshore.